David writes in Psalm 30:1. “I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me.”
Extol is a fancy word that simply means “exalt, lift up, praise.”
When we want to praise God it is not JUST words, it’s not JUST singing, those are the ways we convey our praise. We use words to convey what is going on deep down inside of us.
Let’s pretend your little league team is down a run in the final game of the season and you are up to bat with Billy on second base. The tall guy who throws a tough fast ball, winds up and pitches the ball down the middle of the plate. You swing, and to your surprise, the ball connects and goes way up and over the fence. You’ve just won the game! As you circle around the bases the entire team comes up. When you put your foot on home base they lift you on their shoulders and cheer your name!
Now if that really happened, then they just “extolled” you. They lifted you up, they praised you.
So let me ask you, are you extolling God with words only? Or are you truly extolling him? Are you lifting him up? Are you cheering for him from your heart?
I encourage you today to praise God with all that is in you, not just with words, not just with song but with your heart.